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•
GENNESARET FREE CLINIC
Volunteer Medical Services for the Homeless
"And all those who touched Him were healed," Mark 6:56
Vol.2, No. 6
December. 1989
A Special Thanks
The past months have been busy ones for GFC
workers. With many new services, internal
changes, and new programs we are all dealing
with future 3hock. The TB Screening wa3 really
an all effort for GFC and its amazing how our
volunteers came through. Lot3 of planning and
phnoe calls on the part of Nancy Gregori and Sue
Schneider deserve special recognition. It i3
apparent that there are many, many persons in
our community who are concerned 3bout the
homeless and their medical needs and are
willing to give of themselves to help. Again,
thanks to all who have been giving of time 3nd
talents to help with GFC and the recent TB
screening.
We would also like to acknowledge the
following for helping with the incentive package
lor the TB screening: Hooks Drugs. State
Department of Health, Johnson and Johnson
Products, Mc Neil Pharmaceuticals, General
Hotels Corp. ( Holiday Inn Hotels), Dr and Mrs.
Don Schauwecker, and several private
individuals.
TB Screening Follow-up
A tremendous effort was put forward to
provide tuberculosis screening and
immunisation for influenza, tetanus, and
diphtheria. No one would have believed the work
it took to get medical attention to the entire
homeless population at one time But with 170+
well-trainned volunteers full of enthusiasm it
worked. We tested and treated about 250
homeless persons and found around 25 persons
who had contracted tuberculosis. Most of these
persons were begun on medication; one person
was felt too contagious to return to the shelter
and was hospitalised. The screening and
immunization process focused the attention of
the community on homelessness with wide
spread media coverage, hopefully events like
this can turn the hearts of the average citizen
favorably toward those m ne&d.. The program
also brought much attention to GFC and several
new persons signed up to help. The added
exposure of our Clinic may also help in future
projects.
Ve had hoped to screen upwards cf 1000
persons with this program. Some expressed
disappointment that more did not take advantage
of this offering. Perhaps the weather was too
warm to have many person come off the streets or
there was not enough publicity or the incentive
packages were not attractive enough. Possibly,
the struggle of living on the streets or out of a
shelter is at fault. When every day is literally a
matter of survival with not much to look forward
to, concern for health matters of 3ome future
time become secondary to just getting through
the day Also the pain of 3 needle can 33sume
magical proportions to those not familiar with
medical proceedure3. It is a sobering thought to
contemplate the fears and stresses of being
homeless 3nd dependent on others. How much
more we need to be aware of the concerns
and circumstances of tho3e we 3erve,

•
GENNESARET FREE CLINIC
Volunteer Medical Services for the Homeless
"And all those who touched Him were healed," Mark 6:56
Vol.2, No. 6
December. 1989
A Special Thanks
The past months have been busy ones for GFC
workers. With many new services, internal
changes, and new programs we are all dealing
with future 3hock. The TB Screening wa3 really
an all effort for GFC and its amazing how our
volunteers came through. Lot3 of planning and
phnoe calls on the part of Nancy Gregori and Sue
Schneider deserve special recognition. It i3
apparent that there are many, many persons in
our community who are concerned 3bout the
homeless and their medical needs and are
willing to give of themselves to help. Again,
thanks to all who have been giving of time 3nd
talents to help with GFC and the recent TB
screening.
We would also like to acknowledge the
following for helping with the incentive package
lor the TB screening: Hooks Drugs. State
Department of Health, Johnson and Johnson
Products, Mc Neil Pharmaceuticals, General
Hotels Corp. ( Holiday Inn Hotels), Dr and Mrs.
Don Schauwecker, and several private
individuals.
TB Screening Follow-up
A tremendous effort was put forward to
provide tuberculosis screening and
immunisation for influenza, tetanus, and
diphtheria. No one would have believed the work
it took to get medical attention to the entire
homeless population at one time But with 170+
well-trainned volunteers full of enthusiasm it
worked. We tested and treated about 250
homeless persons and found around 25 persons
who had contracted tuberculosis. Most of these
persons were begun on medication; one person
was felt too contagious to return to the shelter
and was hospitalised. The screening and
immunization process focused the attention of
the community on homelessness with wide
spread media coverage, hopefully events like
this can turn the hearts of the average citizen
favorably toward those m ne&d.. The program
also brought much attention to GFC and several
new persons signed up to help. The added
exposure of our Clinic may also help in future
projects.
Ve had hoped to screen upwards cf 1000
persons with this program. Some expressed
disappointment that more did not take advantage
of this offering. Perhaps the weather was too
warm to have many person come off the streets or
there was not enough publicity or the incentive
packages were not attractive enough. Possibly,
the struggle of living on the streets or out of a
shelter is at fault. When every day is literally a
matter of survival with not much to look forward
to, concern for health matters of 3ome future
time become secondary to just getting through
the day Also the pain of 3 needle can 33sume
magical proportions to those not familiar with
medical proceedure3. It is a sobering thought to
contemplate the fears and stresses of being
homeless 3nd dependent on others. How much
more we need to be aware of the concerns
and circumstances of tho3e we 3erve,